Wayland agrees to pay gas hookup costs for residents

By KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

WAYLAND ? The City of Wayland has agreed to pay up to $350 for the boring expense to hook up a home to Wayland gas.

Ron and Deb Reid approached the city council during its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 1, to request a natural gas hookup and see if the city would incur some of the additional costs for the installation.

The Reids reside at 306 S. Brooks St., in Wayland and currently their house runs on electricity, however high electric bills have forced them to switch their heat, water heater and stove to gas.

?Our electric bill is extremely high, it?s like $500-and some dollars a month and we really want to come on board with Wayland gas so it?s more economical for us,? said Deb Reid.

According to a resolution for new gas customers, which the Reids would be, the city provides pipe, labor and trenching. The resolution goes on to read that the city will determine the limit to be paid for the contractor, materials and services not provided directly by city employees or city equipment.

Unfortunately for the Reids, the gas line runs on the opposite side of the street as their house.

Public works gas superintendent Barry Leichty said a gas line would have to pass under a 25-foot street, a sidewalk and a 25-foot yard. Leichty explained the city would do the backhoeing and instillation, but an outside source would have to bore beneath the street and sidewalk and do the trenching.

Leichty said the total project would be close to $1,000. The estimate for just the boring and services not rendered by the city would be about $350.

Councilwoman Melinda Ullery asked Deb Reid how much of the boring costs she wanted the city to pick up.

?Are you willing to pay half or are you asking for the whole fee,? Ullery inquired further.

?Yes,? replied Ron Reid for the city paying the full cost.

Ullery asked Leichty and her fellow councilmembers what would happen if the boring costs exceeded the estimated amount?

After a brief discussion, Ullery made a motion to set a limit of $350 for what the city would pay of the boring expense.

The motion was approved with a 5-0 vote.

The council spoke with another resident during the meeting. Bill Huisenga inquired what it would take to get eight to 10 chickens on his property. Huisenga said his children are in awe of his neighbors? chickens and would like to have some of their own. However, Huisenga lives within city limits and there are ordinances against having livestock within the city.

City Attorney Mike Vance suggested Huisenga bring a formal, written proposal to the council. Vance told the council they would also have to think about future livestock proposals from residents.

?By doing this you?re going to set a precedent. I know with my history here, there have been problems in the past, that?s why (the ordinance) came into being, to keep livestock animals out,? said Vance.

Huisenga said he would come up with a proposal and meet with the council during its next meeting.

The council also heard various reports during its meeting, including the clerk?s report and utility report.